Topic: Konami: "Taking risks with CV prevented it from becoming another Megaman"

[crisis]

And let's say I expected more from what they promised.

LOL modest much? You were singing praises months after the game was released dude, you were near-Affinity(remember her?) levels of annoying. I recall you & several others here even wanted to organize a "Thank You" letter to Cox for crafting one of the best if not the best Castlevania. But you have gotten a lot better and rational since and have calmed down a lot from your LoS-Sugar-Rush-high, so all is good now

I just find it funny how you're questioning a fellow fan's love for a particular game when you yourself was no different a few years ago..

[Ahasverus]

I'm not questioning it, I'm curious, as PoR is considered the lesser of the MetroidVanias and in a sense was quite a departure of what came before, it was colorful, cheery and a lot of in your face moments; And how can we forget the very, very, very repetitive level design and the shameless recycling (this the the worse of them all, I think that's part of the reason why we had new sprites and assets for Ecclesia).

And Anime faces, oh god, those anime faces, still give me nightmares 

Boss battless were /awesome/ though.

It's not that the game was irredemable, it was good but was a little.. eh.. odd.  Still I want to know your reasons for prefering it over others, sometimes appeal might come from the most different things or perhaps I could gain a new perspective.

And @Crisis: Two things.

In a sense, I think the "Thank you letter" would have been a good idea, as if anything it would give them the reasons WHY we liked LoS and they wouldn't had thought it was because of their master hand that the game was good, and if taken seriously, we would had been spared by some baffilng decisions in Mirror of Fate and.. god knows what LoS2 will bring to us. They just get sucked on their own desing ego.

While I wouldn't make that letter right now, in a sense I think there's nothing wrong with wanting to appreciate someone else's work, if it gave you fun; God forbid, I got a lot of fun with LoS at its time.
So as i'm not saying it's wrong for her to like PoR, and I was just curious (And it seems you didn't get it because I know, a not rethoric question is hard to find on the internet these days) I respectfuly believe you have no business in bringing old events (3 years!) and false information (Ommiting 2 years of membership for..?) to devalue my post for no reason.
This is a Castlevania Forum, not the WWE, and there's no need to start a feud from thin air, even if that is not as amusing as you'd like. Peace.

[Foffy]

This coming from the guy with a Jonathan Morris sig.

It's intentionally campy. It was also made by someone I knew before he took his life, so I use it out of respect.

[VladCT]

...Well, this is kinda awkward.

[Pfil]

No, it's OK Ashaverus, you were always respectful to me.

Why I personally love PoR so much?
Castlevania is what I like the most in the world, and I'm also a big fan for a specific kind of anime. I can name Rosario to Vampire, Sora No Otoshimono, Mayoi Neko Overrun, Angel Beats, Clannad, Kore Wa Zombie Desu Ka...
Portrait of Ruin mixed Castlevania with that kind of anime (at least to my eyes).
Then there's Charlotte, my favourite costume in the series, and she looks like that kind of intellectual library girl I sometimes like to write about in my stories. The chemistry between her and Jonathan, and the catchphrase "Quit treating me like a child", like she's grown up now... I remember feeling like that.
Also, the levels. They are so beautiful. The renaissance mixed with 19th and early 20th century... The backgrounds... And the whole backstory of the WWII that makes me remember stories told by my grandfather, whom I miss so much... World War has always been kind of romantic and poetic from where I see it... nostalgic... that also happened with scenarios from Bloodlines to me, and let's not forget this is a sequel to Bloodlines, one of my favourite (if not my favourite) ClassicVania. Versailles, Tower of Pisa, the German Factory, Proserpina... that feeling seemed to translate perfectly from ClassicVania to MetroidVania here, from the start with the concept of portraits, reminiscing art from the beggining.
Then, the rest of characters. Brauner is so elegant, and his story as a villain is what I like to see in a villain, kind of what we see with Gabriel in MoF... he is evil, but it's out of love, not out of hate. Brauner just does what he does to save his daughters. And Stella and Loretta themselves, that gothic lolita design... just beautiful.
Not to mention they become playable characters later, and their mode is so fun, and we also have Axe Armor for a difficult quest to complete the 1000% with her (including Nest of Evil) requires high ability as a player, which took lots and lots of practice and strategy for me.
And if that weren't enough, we have Richter and Maria from Rondo, and that Maria gameplay is one of my favourites (in fact, Carrie is my favourite 3D gameplay together with Okami, and Charlotte is my favourite 2D gameplay -those spells...- followed by Rondo's Maria).
To get 1000% with every one of the 7 characters is no easy task. Not to mention to get every item, weapon, drop, something I always do in every Castlevania.
Then there's the side quests, provided by a character I've loved since Bloodlines, and whose story is also touching, as well as the backstory for the whip and Richter's memory.
To complete all the quests is one of the funniest and most engaging things I remember experiencing in a game, at least personally (everything I say is from a personal point of view).
The final fight versus Dracula and Death? Awesome, and a great idea! That fusion was so anime-like!
And previous to that fight, I can hear my favourite VG music ever: "Gaze Up At The Darkness".
Which brings me to the soundtrack. Oh, my God, the soundtrack!
As much as I love every Castlevania soundtrack (they are my favourite music in the world), Portrait of Ruin is my favourite, I like it even better than SotN, AoS or OoE, which are my other favourites in the saga.
The mix of two giants like Michiru Yamane and Yuzo Koshiro worked perfectly for me.

I know I'm in the minority, but I'm used to that, it's OK. For example, Curse of Darkness is one of the experiences I enjoyed the most in my life playing games, and one of my favourite Castlevania games too, also in large part because of side quests, aesthetic and soundtrack.

Greetings! 

[crisis]

This is a Castlevania Forum, not the WWE, and there's no need to start a feud from thin air, even if that is not as amusing as you'd like

Whoa calm down dude, I'm not starting a feud! I was just making a point how people love to call the kettle black, and used you as an example (and honestly, that snide "WHY" meme you posted last page was more like you wanting to start something, it was like "HOW COULD ANYONE LOVE PORTRAIT OF RUIN SO MUCH?!" despite you loving LoS just as much as Pfil loves PoR. That's all I was trying to point out.). I even said that you've gotten a lot better from your rampant fanboyism of Cox & LoS, a lot more rational than you used to be and I commend you for that.

[Foffy]

...Well, this is kinda awkward.

Nah, it's okay, you didn't know. But I think one should assume something's amiss if I lament (hurrhurr) over PoR despite having a signature with JONASAN.

[Dengo vlad tepes]

i really don't know what is this guy thinking ....

daym he's just too dramatic ! look at MoF and tell me more about the life saving !

[Pfil]

I don't understand.

[son_the_vampire]

so where do we go from here?

[Weiss Belmont]

I love how this guy keeps acting like he's the sole savior of Castlevania and the sole reason it exists.

Pft, I know right. Never mind the fact that Castlevania has been doing quite well on the handhelds and the series was established long, long before Cox even got into the industry. But I guess we should give him credit for all of Castlevania's successes. Hell let's give him accolades for MGS as well because you know he's going to say that RR took elements from LOS. And hell, we might as well consider Cox the savior of Konami and the entire video game industry. My word what an amazing man. 

[Flame]

Castlevania has been doing quite well on the handhelds 

I disagree. The handhelds suffered after Aria. poR and DoS single handedly sunk IGA's Ship. (well, as did the Console games of loI and CoD which really garnered no fanfare whatsoever.)

When a longstanding CONSOLE series, is relegated to handhelds? That's a problem. It means it is not worth investing in a proper full blown outing.

and the series was established long, long before Cox even got into the industry.

I fail to see how this is relevant. So what? Mega Man has been established almost just as long, and it still needs saving. Castlevania needed a change as well.

[Weiss Belmont]

I disagree. The handhelds suffered after Aria. poR and DoS single handedly sunk IGA's Ship. (well, as did the Console games of loI and CoD which really garnered no fanfare whatsoever.)

The handheld market is booming. Always has but even more so nowadays. Sure Castlevania didn't look like the Belle of the ball after Aria of Sorrow, the series did quite well on the handhelds.

I fail to see how this is relevant. So what? Mega Man has been established almost just as long, and it still needs saving. Castlevania needed a change as well.

Then I'll explain it to you and I'll be as brief as possible. Cox is not the savior of Castlevania. That was my point, one you somehow missed. Castlevania needed change true. But just because a series adopts innovation that doesn't mean it's in some immediate danger of dying. You have this idea that game series must evolve or die. This is not true on any level. Madden, CoD, Halo, the most recent iterations of these titles are the same shit people have been playing for 5+ years now, 10+ where Madden is concerned. Games don't need innovation to sell so much as they need marketing power. Castlevania is the bastard step child of Konami which as a company has placed most of the burden of keeping them afloat squarely on the shoulders of Kojima.

Your crack about Mega Man is dubious. Mega Man was axed simply because Capcom felt they were disgraced by Inafune's departure. Four MM games were lined up prior to his departure and all four of them got the ax. This was in no way due to the game being outdated or not matching the current interests of the consumer but because Capcom is filled with asshats. Mega Man needs saving yes - by being removed from Capcom and put in the hands of a company that is actually competent. However, your "assertion" that Mega Man needs saving is based on some belief you have that something is inherently wrong with the series. It is not. Perhaps the next time you're in the board room with the other heads at Capcom please relay this to them.

[Phoenix7786]

Why I personally love PoR so much?

For what it's worth PoR is my favorite of the DS series, while OoE bored me to tears.

[Flame]

Then I'll explain it to you and I'll be as brief as possible. Cox is not the savior of Castlevania. That was my point, one you somehow missed. Castlevania needed change true. But just because a series adopts innovation that doesn't mean it's in some immediate danger of dying. You have this idea that game series must evolve or die. This is not true on any level. Madden, CoD, Halo, the most recent iterations of these titles are the same shit people have been playing for 5+ years now, 10+ where Madden is concerned. Games don't need innovation to sell so much as they need marketing power. Castlevania is the bastard step child of Konami which as a company has placed most of the burden of keeping them afloat squarely on the shoulders of Kojima.

Its not so much about that as it is about the fact that a series that once had innovation and change on consoles, was relegated to asset reuse on handhelds. I have nothing against handheldvania. But the series was condemned to it after the N64 games. We only got 2 new console games, and 1 2D CV remake. (not counting Judgement, which was a fighting game) That, and IGA had just run his course. it was only IGA, and not all of his stuff was good. (hes terrible at sequel plots) maybe it's just me, but I wanted some change. i wanted SOMETHING big, and for me, LoS delivered. Sure, it was super hyped as Dracula vs Belmont, and that was a like, but I liked the change it brought. fresh blood, different vision, and no holds barred. it was top notch quality visually, and gameplaywise. (opinion, mind you)

Your crack about Mega Man is dubious. Mega Man was axed simply because Capcom felt they were disgraced by Inafune's departure.

As much as we all like to say that in anger at Capcom, I'm very sure that was not the main reason.

inafune was in a high enough position and respected enough that he could push for these games. And by his own admission, would often go over budget on prorotypes, so as to force Capcom to push it to development. Mega Man has not always sold well. And part of the problem is it never changed. It's to be admired that it lasted so long with very little change, but that doesnt last. And their 3D attempts have never succeeded. X7 was a bomb, (Command Mission im unsure of, but it was not a standard X game, being an RPG) and the Legends series Inafune recalls putting Capcom in the red, explaining why there was never a Legends 3.

Four MM games were lined up prior to his departure and all four of them got the ax.

Four?

Mega Man Legends 3,
Mega man Universe,
Mega Man Online.

What's the fourth?

And all 3 of them had other factors.

Legends 3: was Inafune's project, and he was pushing it. Capcom never wanted it, because the original 2 never sold well.

Mega man Universe?: had a bad reception when it was shown at conventions.

Online: was Korea exclusive, and was coincidentally caught up in neowiz restructuring to concentrate on phone games, cutting their online game department severely.

Capcom is filled with asshats.

No argument there, lol.

 

Mega Man needs saving yes - by being removed from Capcom and put in the hands of a company that is actually competent.

not sure about this. I'm sure Capcom could make a good new fresh game if the higher ups actually wanted it. Capcom has great folks working in it and for it. The problem is management not seeing Mega man as profitable or worth the risk. they also dont know what to do with the franchise to rekindle that fire. (because they are idiots)

that said, I'd love some third party love. Wayforward for one.

However, your "assertion" that Mega Man needs saving is based on some belief you have that something is inherently wrong with the series. It is not.

there is only 1 thing that is wrong with the franchise, and that is that it never evolved to the third dimension. that was essential back when the PS made that the big thing.  Mario did it. Metroid did it eventually. even Castlevania tried it. Although they were in a similar boat, since the N64 games had a... rocky... lifespan. But despite my gripes about console vania, we DID get occasional 3D games. at least they TRIED. Capcom? Legends failed and they said "fuck it". X7 failed and they said "fuck it" again, and gave up at 3D mega man after Command Mission. 9 and 10 were incredibly niche and even not all the fanbase liked them. and the ZX series was not selling well, leading to another Legends 2 syndrome with ZXA's ending.

mega man needs something like loS, (not necessarily a reboot, although making a clean break without all that backlog of story wouldnt hurt) a big budget, well made 3D game.

(or they could just release Legends 3 and see that the audience for it today is much larger than it was when legends 2 failed)